Our Turn: Is protesting at the funeral of a fallen soldier unAmerican?

View full sizeAP Photo/The Kirksville Daily Express, Al MaglioSupporters of the Rev. Fred Phelps, of the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church, demonstrate outside the funeral service for a Marine in 2006.

High school students representing 17 high schools and the Home School association in southwestern Michigan schools serve on the Kalamazoo Gazette's Young Editorial Staff (YES), which is coordinated by freelance writer Phyllis Rose. The students pick their own discussion topics. The views expressed in Our Turn are solely those of the students, not the Gazette. These Our Turn pieces were written by: Neal Edwards, Julie Williams and Ashley Monroe.

As Albert Snyder laid his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, to rest in 2006, members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas, picketed the funeral with signs reading, “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “God Hates Fags.”

Led by Rev. Fred Phelps, Westboro stages these rallies in the belief that the death of American soldiers overseas is God’s punishment for America’s acceptance of homosexuality and abortion.

Snyder filed a civil case against Phelps for the emotional distress the demonstration caused. The case has landed in the Supreme Court pitting Snyder’s right to grieve privately against Westboro’s freedom of speech.

As nauseating as Westboro’s actions may be, they should continue to be protected by the First Amendment, even if such speech is fueled by hate. In the 1977 case of National Socialist Party of America v. Skokie, the Supreme Court ruled the Nazi party had the right to parade peacefully through the Jewish community of Skokie. Thus, the First Amendment protects all speech regardless of how controversial it is.

The dilemma is how to protect individuals from hate while protecting freedom of speech. Snyder is rightfully distraught, but Westboro’s statements regarding soldiers, abortion and homosexuality are protected by the Constitution. Infringing on these rights could lead to further restrictions on free speech.

In the 1950 case, United States v. Rabinowitz, Justice Felix Frankfurter said, "It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have often been forged in controversies involving not very nice people."

Westboro church members are entitled to rally regardless of the inflammatory nature of their demonstrations.

While limiting their rights may be unconstitutional, a group of bikers may have found a more practical solution. As members of Westboro prepared for a demonstration outside Arlington National Cemetery, a group of motorcyclists preceding the funeral procession lined the streets.

The bikers in a true American counterprotest opened the throttles of their bikes and let their engines drown out the Westboro demonstrators. Neal Edwards is a senior at Comstock High School.

The preamble to the Constitution says that it was written to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity.”

The Declaration of Independence also declares that “All men are created equal.”

So, the Blessings of Liberty should pertain to all, not just those deemed OK by any one person or group.

This does not exclude fallen soldiers who have fought for our country. A fallen citizen is a fallen citizen. Still, some people, such as members of Westboro Baptist Church, believe fallen soldiers fall below the standard that the rest of us are held up to and believe to be our basic rights.

The Westboro Baptist Church has been fervently protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers, picketing with signs like, “Thank God for Maimed Soldiers” and “God Hates Your Tears.” These men and women from Westboro are being disrespectful of our fallen heroes because, according to their pastor, Rev. Fred Phelps, they “believe soldiers are dying because God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuals.”

Regardless of your views on homosexuality, this does not provide a substantial foundation for these protests. Furthermore, an individual’s stance on the debate over homosexuality has nothing to do with a fallen soldier. That soldier’s family should not be harassed because of someone’s thoughts and beliefs.

So, the argument of the Westboro Baptist Church just doesn’t stack up. It would make more sense for them to take their arguments to the national government rather than shoving them in the faces of fallen soldiers’ loved ones.

Think of the grieving families knowing their sons and daughters will never come back. No words can provide enough comfort and nothing can mend the ache in their hearts.

At a time when people should be paying their respects to the soldiers’ loved ones, an appalling display is being made causing distress for the families. That doesn’t sound very American to me. Julie Williams is a senior at Otsego High School.

Americans are guaranteed freedom of assembly as long as it is peaceful. So as long as the protestors at these funerals do not get violent, there is nothing legally wrong with what they are doing.

However, as Americans, we should also be supporting our troops, even if we do not agree with the war. Our soldiers put their lives on the line, and there is nothing more patriotic than that. The least we can do is support them when they get back — whether they come back alive or in a casket.

If people feel the need to make their opinions on the war known, they should take their protests to the president or military bases. Soldiers are not responsible for the course or longevity of this war.

While there was never a real reason for the war, that does not mean it has been fruitless. Since the war began, the government of Iraq has become more stable. While not a true democracy, the country could be on the road to becoming one. The war also resulted in the removal of Saddam Hussein who committed heinous crimes against his own people and caused them to live in constant terror.

While the war was not the right thing to do, it has slowly benefited the Iraqi people. The United States has always been a country willing to help others whether it would give instant gratification or not, and while this often causes controversy, at least we are trying to do something to improve the world.

While I no longer support the war in Iraq, I will always support our troops, because without them, the United States would be a completely different country. Instead of feeling confident that there is a force for our protection, we might have to fear for our lives every day. I will always be grateful for the men and women who serve this country.